by Brian Cain
PARTY. FIVE PM AT HOME. He rang Mary to see how preparations were progressing. Tammy had invited her entire class from school, Mary reported that things were coming along fine. Whilst studying documents on the computer after the call, a very familiar scent touched his nose. He looked up, the perfume in the safe was tightly capped. He could hear Debra raising her voice in her adjoining office, as he approached the door the scent became more powerful, it was Forever. He opened the door, bringing an eerie silence to the two women’s bickering. He was speechless when he saw Anita, for he could smell and see what was remarkably similar to Malinda. Even her height and lines matched. “Can I help you?”
“She’s a newspaper reporter Jason! She was demanding to see you straight away,” said Debra.
Anita stared at Jason, unable to believe that her rock and roll idol had actually spoken to her.
“Send her in, please Deb.”
Debra hissed through her teeth, “Mr Brinkly will see you now.”
Anita stared at Jason a few seconds before answering. “Thank you Miss Charming.”
Jason left the door open; they sat down at the desk. “What is it you wanted to see me about?”
“I am sorry about that Mr Brinkly, but...”
“Please, people are always forgetting my name, it’s Jason.”
“Oh thank you for that, I haven’t been with the Adelaide Gazette very long and I do want to get this story right.”
Jason hadn’t really listened. “Where did you get your bottle of Forever perfume from?”
“I’m a great fan of Malvanna products, everything I use is Malvanna. Oh I am sorry, I didn’t think about your wife. I have a few bottles of it, I liked it so much; I bought a lot to last me. Lucky, as they don’t make it any more. Your wife and her products were a great influence on me. They make me feel pretty.”
“You are pretty, in fact your very much like her, Miss... ah...”
“Powel, Anita Powel. You hardly seem the kind of person who would sack his entire workforce, which is one of the reasons I’m here. The other is to say I love your music and have all your albums.”
“Thank you. There are a few disgruntled people around this morning; one of them has obviously rung you saying I had sacked the staff at our manufacturing plants. Is that right?”
“Yes, said you were making millions of dollars but that wasn’t enough, you wanted more and unless the workforce buckled under they could all go.”
“Not quite, may I suggest that you go to the police department right after you have seen this man.” Jason wrote David Kelp’s name and address on a piece of paper for her. “You will have quite a story to write about. Be in the park opposite here at one pm for more instalments.”
Anita studied the piece of paper. “Will he see me?”
“Yes, he will be expecting you.”
“Thank you very much, I really need this story.”
“It’ll come together for you; people are sent to me for a reason. I think I know why you came.”
Anita walked towards the door keen to chase her story.
“Is that the real colour of your hair?” asked Jason.
She turned, looking with a smile. “Why don’t you find out?”
“Oh, don’t worry, the thought had crossed my mind,” Jason answered as she disappeared out the door. Jason found his jocks holding an uncomfortable disposition for the first time in months.
Anita fronted David Kelp’s secretary, the secretary buzzed David on the phone. “There is an Anita Powel here from the Adelaide Gazette; she claims you are expecting her.”
“Send her straight in,” replied David. He then looked at the floor in disbelief, whispering to himself, “Who on earth said that because it wasn’t me.”
Time slipped away on Jason as he studied company-related documents within the computer. He had gone online to the overseas operations, receiving some information he had requested. His eyes felt tired so he walked to the window. He was surprised to see a large crowd of people in front of the PA in the park; he looked at his watch, twelve thirty. There was a knock at the door and in walked Watson with Nickson, Farmer, Benneti, Wilson and Potts. They were all full of enthusiasm; there was no longer any unrealistic wage claims or demands. Jason listened as he was told of the different approach by all concerned. All workers wanted to know how they could assist in the development of the new strategies outlined by Farmer and Nickson. Everyone was keen to hear what Jason had to say. At one pm sharp they mounted the small platform Tom had put between the speakers of the PA. The large crowd fell silent when they saw Jason at the microphone. A lone man and his wife walked their dog from the nearby fashionable suburb of Hyde Park. They were inquisitive as to what was going on and stood on the edge of the crowd. “That’s Jason Brinkly up there, the children are big fans of his music dear,” said the wife.
“So that’s him in person, a very handsome chap to say the least. I wonder what all this is about?” whispered the man in reply. All that could be heard was the wind rustling through the large gum trees above. If there was one thing Jason was used to, it was facing large crowds on a stage. He did a thing that most speakers would feel uncomfortable doing; he smiled at the crowd letting them take in the silence for a good twenty seconds before speaking. He spoke straight off the cuff with no prompt sheets.
“I would first like to thank you all for giving us the opportunity to have this meeting here today, without you it would be nothing.” He paused a few seconds between sentences. “You have also chosen to turn your back on those who would seek to destroy us all in our endeavours, they will now face the laws that we all live by.” There was resounding applause for some seconds, Jason waited for complete silence. “With the people I have before me I am sure we will rise to be the biggest, most successful manufacturer of kitchenware in the world; with products that will be the envy of our opposition!” There was resounding cheers and applause. Jason waited for silence. He paused a few seconds on the silence. “As the changes we require take place over the next few weeks, we will still produce some of the product we have at the present time. This product is not what we want to be known for, but should not be wasted. It will all be donated to charities such as the Salvation Army for those who are less fortunate than ourselves.” There were loud cheers and applause; it was some time before it fell silent. “In a few weeks our plants will be the most modern in the world and our people the most efficient. You will be able to hold your head high when you tell some one you work with Brinkly International, because that will be the standard that every Australian wants to be associated with! The crowd was now jumping, cheering and clapping. It took some minutes for silence, but Jason waited. “I would like to leave you with our new industrial relations man, a man for us all. He will assist management in defining everyone’s individual goals, as well as for us as a whole. As I leave you to waste no time in arranging our futures, please give our first ever and longest serving employee in this organisation your fullest co-operation, Mr Mario Benneti.”
There was much applause for Benneti as he took the microphone. Jason walked to the side of the PA. He walked straight into Anita Powel. She had a large smile and was accompanied by a reporter and camera crew from channel eight. “You have got me front page tomorrow morning with this story, quite the flavour of the month news-wise aren’t you? These are some friends of mine from channel eight. Would you answer a few questions for us on camera for the news?”
“Yes, I’d be glad to. Can we move away where it’s a bit quieter?”
While Jason was answering questions the man walking his dog, accompanied by his wife was just starting to move on. “What did you think of that dear? I felt so lifted when he was talking to those people, as if I wanted to work with him myself. What an incredible charisma,” commented the man’s wife.
The man looked over towards the crowd again with a smile and a nod. “Yes. Very impressive. A true leader.” The man was the leader of the opposition in federal parliament and Australian People’s Party head.
; Jason was coming to the end of his news interview when Anita threw in another question. “Is it true that a mining company in WA, newly formed this week by yourself, has reserves of gold totalling two hundred billion and rising?”
“Yes, Brinkwick mining is headed by Nigel Fenwick and has been forwarded twenty million dollars to kick start the project.”
“That makes you the richest man in Australia, possibly the world.”
“That I don’t know, but I look forward to all our projects doing good things for mainstream Australia. Now if you please excuse me I have an important engagement this afternoon with a lady that I don’t want to be late for.”
Anita looked disappointed. “This lady must be very important to you; can we announce who she is?”
“Yes of course, it’s my daughter Tammy, she’s seven today. You’re invited to her party Anita.”
Anita smiled with relief. “Sorry, but I have to get this story finished. We are holding the front page for it.” She had parked her car under the trees just off the road. Jason watched as she purposely allowed her skirt to ride up, exposing her full legs and panties as she climbed in her car. She hastily drove off. As Jason walked towards his office he found things a little uncomfortable in his trousers, not only that, his heart ached as if a ghost had returned.
